App for Asthma Connected Plus (A4A+): implementing Internet-of-Things (IoT) solutions to support asthma self-management Image Self-management is more than self-monitoringAsthma self-management is far more than logging peak flow and medication use.Asthma attacks can be triggered by allergies (such as pollen) or viral infections and it is important that everyone with asthma knows what to do if their symptoms or peak flows show that their asthma is getting worse. An action plan, agreed with their GP or asthma nurse, is therefore a particularly important component of self-management for people with asthma.Other self-management support includes asthma education, communication with healthcare professions, lifestyle advice, help with medication adherence and (for some people) psychological treatments, and social support.Connected asthma technologyNew technologies such as smart inhalers, smart peak flow meters, pollen or pollution sensors and other smart gadgets connect to the internet to collect and transfer data. When these emerging technologies work together to help people to manage their asthma, we called them ‘connected asthma’ technology or an internet-of-things (IoT) system’. Increasingly, artificial intelligence can use all this data and provide feedback and advice to help people and their healthcare advisors to take the right decisions.What we knowWe know that supported self-management for asthma leads to better day to day control of asthma symptoms, less time off work or school and reduces the risk of an asthma attack.We have identified a number of technological features that could support asthma self-management in a future connected asthma system. Many people want technology to watch over them ‘silently’ (for example, using a smart inhaler which can watch how often they need rescue medication) so they don’t have to enter symptoms scores or readings every day.Our programme of workWe aim to design and test the Connect for Asthma (C4A) system. This will be an IoT system that allows people with asthma to choose which devices they connect, if/when they want to share their information (for example with their doctor or nurse), and which is flexible so that new technologies can be connected later. We have developed a prototype ‘app’, and asked people with asthma, and clinicians for feedback on C4A and how they thought new connected technologies might help. We also looked at whether they trusted the ‘connected asthma’ technology to help them look after their asthma. Publications and research outputsJournal articlesHui CY, McKinstry B, Mclean S, Buchner M, Pinnock HAssessing the technical feasibility of a flexible, integrated Internet-of-things connected for asthma (C4A) system to support self-management: a mixed method study exploring patients and healthcare professionals perspectivesJAMIA Open, Volume 5, Issue 4, December 2022, ooac110. doi: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooac10 Hui CY, McKinstry B, Fulton O, Buchner M, Pinnock HPatients' and Clinicians' Perceived Trust in Internet-of-Things Systems to Support Asthma Self-management: Qualitative Interview StudyJMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2021 Jul 16;9(7):e24127. doi: 10.2196/24127. PMID: 34269684. Hui CY, McKinstry B, Fulton O, Buchner M, Pinnock HPatients’ and Clinicians’ Visions of a Future Internet-of-Things System to Support Asthma Self-Management: Mixed Methods StudyJ Med Internet Res 2021;23(4):e22432 doi: 10.2196/22432 Hui, C., Walton, R., McKinstry, B., Pinnock, HTime to change the paradigm? A mixed method study of the preferred and potential features of an asthma self-management appHealth Informatics Journal. doi.org/10.1177/1460458219853381 Hui CY, McKinstry B, Walton R, Pinnock, HStrategies to promote adoption and usage of an application to support asthma self-management: a qualitative observational studyBMJ Health & Care Informatics 2018;25: doi: 10.14236/jhi.v25i4.1056 Chi Yan Hui, Robert Walton , Brian McKinstry, Hilary PinnockWhat features do patients ‘want’ in a mobile asthma app?: a qualitative studyEuropean Respiratory Journal Sep 2017, 50 (suppl 61) PA3874; DOI: 10.1183/1393003.congress-2017.PA3874 Chi Yan Hui, Robert Walton, Brian McKinstry, Tracy Jackson, Richard Parker, Hilary Pinnock The use of mobile applications to support self-management for people with asthma: a systematic review of controlled studies to identify features associated with clinical effectiveness and adherence Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, Volume 24, Issue 3, May 2017, Pages 619–632, DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocw143 Recent conferencesHui CY, McKinstry B, Buchner M, Fulton O, Pinnock for the A4A+ project teamWhat features do patients and clinicians ‘want’ in the future Internet Of Thing (IoT) systems for asthma: a mixed method studyVideo presentation at The International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) 10th World Conference 2021 Hui CY, McKinstry B, Buchner M, Fulton O, Pinnock for the A4A+ project teamExploring how patients use a connected Internet-Of-Things system (A4A+) with off-the-shelf CE-marked devices to support asthma self-management? A mixed method study ePoster at The Primary Care Respiratory Society (PCRS) Conference 2021 Hui CY, McKinstry B, Buchner M, Fulton O, Pinnock for the A4A+ project teamWhat features do patients and clinicians ‘want’ in the future Internet-Of-Things (IoT) systems for asthma: a mixed method studyePoster at The European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2021 Key PeopleProfessor Hilary Pinnock is the Principal Investigator and Dr Io Hui is the Co-Principal Investigator in this project. The team is supported by Professor Brian McKinstry, Mark Buchner (technology partner), Olivia Fulton (patient advisor), Susannah McLean (healthcare professional advisor) and Christopher Carlin (healthcare professional advisor), Simon Chapple (IoT advisor). Hilary PinnockPrincipal InvestigatorBased at: University of EdinburghHilary's Profile Io Chi-Yan HuiResearch FellowBased at: University of EdinburghIo's Profile Brian McKinstryProfessor of Primary Care E-HealthBased at: University of EdinburghBrian's Profile Mark BuchnerManaging Director, TactuumTactuum Website Image Christopher CarlinConsultant Physician and NHS Research ScotlandSenior Investigator, Respiratory Medicine,NHS Greater Glasgow and ClydeChristopher's Google Scholar Profile Device CollaboratorsWe thank Medical International Research and Smart Respiratory Products Ltd who provided devices for this research, and Findair and Polar Electro (UK) Ltd who provided API support. Image Other collaborator: Image We will use the Digital Health & Care Institute (DHI) simulation environment as part of the data interpretation workshop with stakeholders. Funders for this programme of work2019-current Medical Research Council Confidence in Concept2018-2019 Asthma UK/CSO innovation grant2014-2018 Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of the Scottish Government Chief Medical Officer (PhD Studentship) Image Contact usWant to find out more?Contact Dr Io Hui This article was published on 2024-09-24
